The Serpent's Teeth

“Oh the shark has pretty teeth, dear, / And he shows them pearly white. / Just a jack-knife has Macheath / And he keeps it out of sight.” - Bertolt Brecht

Description

These 22 knives are unremarkable, slightly over-long and poorly balanced, making them unsuitable to the used as throwing knives. The knives themselves are of the highest quality, though they lack any ornamentation, crafted from watered steel.

History

Created by the Serpent of Darkness for his closest followers, the knives have seen much use in the ages that followed, disappearing for long stretches at a time, only to resurface when the lands are gripped in an age of strife and massed bloodshed. Ledgend has it that the Serpant, knowing that he would lose in the war with his brother, crafted these knives as a way to escape the prison he knew would be created for him.

Properties

The enchantments on the knives are of a very singular nature, power for those willing to use them. From the moment one first takes up one of these knives a sort of bloodlust sets in, a desire to cause as much physical pain as possible; to maim, murder, mutilate, and maul others. And as one gives into these desires they are rewarded, their strength and stamina increase, they are faster and the world just seems to be sharper, as if they were living in water their whole life, and only now have come to dry land.

But as the knife is left unused, the powers fade away, slowly at first, just a niggling whine at the edge of their consciouness, that they used to be better, but then faster and faster, until they are left feeling crippled, even if they're only at where they had started out at.

The other enchantment is just as singular, to funnel to energies created by the death of a mortal to the Serpent, to strengthen his ravaged body so that one day he might once again roam the Earth, bringing destruction and suffering. This mission is one they've played well since their creation, and one that even the most well-intentioned has played into once they picked up one of these knives and began laying waste to their enemies.

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This could make for an interesting recurring villain. A knife that continues to find and strengthen a succession of bad guys, with the players not realizing right away that it is the weapon which is the real enemy.

Two Minerals

Also called "pale-yellow witch" by alchemists, this mineral is known to possess a peculiar attribute. When found, a Yupiorite will appear the palest yellow. Rather than crystalline in structure, Yupiorite occurs in weird, smooth, ovaline shapes, as if already carved by skilled hands to serve as ring or necklace ornaments. Yupiorite somehow detects and reacts to mood. When the wearer of the gem is content, calm, and happy, the stone will remain the palest yellow. As the person gets more excited, angry, or otherwise stimulated, the mineral will darken progressively to a dark corn-yellow in color. Why the gem reacts this way to sentient mood swings, is still debated by gemologists and alchemists alike.

It is said that the Elven Halls of Vala-Aluduwy are resplendent with wall-sized mirrors of pure Yupiorite, showing plainly and ironically, the emotions of everyone present, despite the Elven love of restraint and stoicism.

Aragdulose

"Cave-grass" or "cave-pine" is a deep forest green in color, rare and often mistaken for other minerals, though otherwise mundane. Crystals form into tiny, ultra-thin, needle-like clusters by the hundreds of thousands, creating vast dark green bursts and structures, resembling evergreen conifers, if viewed by any sort of light. Despite its ephemeral shape, Aragdulose is only second to a diamond in hardness.

Dwarves are said to keep these mineral "trees" in their homes, putting them up during festive family holidays, leaving presents beneath them, for kin to open.